Holland America Line Alaska Cruise Reviews 2023 UPDATED: Ratings of Holland America Line Cruises to Alaska
Table Of Content
Even though we technically already sampled breakfast in the MDR, the Princess wanted to dine here again. According to the forecast, our string of good weather was expected to continue. Ready ahead of schedule, we ventured up to the restaurant early to grab drinks from the adjacent lounge. Worried we might not find any wildlife, we didn’t have to wait long at all! Unlike our previous Neets Bay bear watching cruise, there were multiple black bear sightings within minutes of entering the forest.
You like to travel to lesser known destinations.
The mini fridge includes items that cost extra, but you can ask for those items to be removed, which I did. I then used the refrigerator to store extra drinks and leftover food from room service. Imagine being on a beach and hearing the waves crash against the shore for seven days. When on board, the app serves as a tool to access the cruise itinerary. As someone who considers herself pretty tech-savvy, this app was helpful before and during the cruise.
Who is Ready for a Thrill?
So, the most anticipated day of this cruise turned out to be the biggest disappointment for me. When the itinerary said “cruising Tracy Arm,” I assumed the vessel was cruising in the fjord. During my May Alaska cruise, I was surprised to see an abundance of porpoises and humpback whales on the route.
You prefer your dining expenses covered.
While not required, we personally believe in going beyond the included gratuities. Your hotel and dining staff work hard for you every single day. You’ve enjoyed a freshened stateroom and attentive service from your room steward. The wait staff is not only busy filling water and wine glasses, but busboys are clearing and cleaning, and servers delivering meals as quickly as possible.
10 of 871 Vancouver to Alaska Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
The food is superb, presentation lovely, and had there been a pop-up on another night, we would have been there. This was our favorite restaurant when we sailed on the Koningsdam, and we were initially disappointed that the venue wasn’t on the Westerdam. The teen often chose to grab coffee and a breakfast pastry in the Neptume Lounge instead. It was nice to let everyone make their own breakfast choices, knowing there were plenty of options. Since we are locals, it was nice not to have to stress over a flight or a schedule. We packed up our stuff, had breakfast, and then claimed our bags and headed to the car.
With our rockfish stored, we headed to another couple of spots to try our hand at salmon fishing. We each had a chance to reel in a fish, including one lovely Sockeye salmon and many Pink salmon. We still had enough time to do a little shopping in Juneau and eat at the Alaskan Brewing Co before we had to be back on the ship. We booked a 2-door Jeep since there were just 2 of us, they do have a 4-door option as well. And the price is per jeep, which for a family can work out to make the excursion not too expensive per person. The cost is $49 plus an 18% gratuity, although there are upcharges for some dishes and some ships charge off an a la carte priced menu.
Similar Posts
We recently had the opportunity to take a 7-day Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise in August aboard the Holland America Koningsdam ship. With my teen onboard, we reconnected with each other and with the beautiful nature that makes Alaska a coveted tourist destination. We are not usually fans of seafood restaurants on cruise ships. As New Englanders, we have some of the best seafood back home. Tonight, we would be having dinner with our group at the Pinnacle Grill for the Rudi’s Sel de Mer experience.
Holland America Line Alaska Cruise Review Video
The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler - The Points Guy
The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler.
Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
DH and I bought the nonalcoholic drinks package and took advantage of it by getting lots of specialty coffees, smoothies, and fun mocktails available at the bars and pools. It wasn't a necessity, but a fun extra for our vacation. The other couple in our group opted for the "Have it All" package and enjoyed trying a large variety of wines and mixed drinks on board. We did, however, book one shore excursion… an extended Mendelhall Glacier experience.
Alaska Cruise Sneak Preview
All Alaska cruises include one or more glacier-viewing days, and you’ll get closer to ‘the giants’ on ships perfectly sized for the Great Land. We’ve been sharing the wonders of Alaska longer than any other cruise line. See the best of the Great Land’s glaciers, coastal towns and wildlife on board perfectly sized ships offering superior service and exclusive programming.
The adventure continues with Alaska land and sea cruisetour packages, including accommodation and tours not offered by any other cruise line. We often saw ships from Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises in our ports. Even though the other cruise lines were in the same Alaskan ports, our ship had prime docking spots. Wandering along the water, we saw fish jumping, fishermen, and enjoyed some fresh air. The unstructured personal exploration was a perfect balance to the busyness of excursions on other days. We ate in the Lido a few times, and it was decent food, but a bit chaotic trying to find a table for 6 and then pick up and bring food and drinks back to the table.
Native Americans had already been living in the area for far longer than these new settlers. The city was named after the chief, Sealth, who was the leader of the Puget Sound tribes including Duwamish and Suquamish. The city has a checkered and complicated history, far beyond what can be included in a cruise review. If you’re traveling any distance, you’ll want to arrive in Seattle at least a day early. We planned to get to the ship early, as our cabin allowed for early boarding. We wanted to give the teen time to explore the ship, have lunch, and relax a little bit before we got underway.
Most of all, I’d learn what cruising Alaska is like on a medium-sized ship. The food and wine program extends to many other styles of cuisine in fine and casual dining venues, but this is only one aspect of the onboard experience. Holland America is known for its impeccable service and the attentive way that the courteous crew treats each guest. Holland America offers more access to Alaska wildlife than any other cruise line.
Not restricted by family obligations this time, we were able to fly into Seattle the day before our cruise. Joining other members of our media group for a pre-cruise dinner at the nearby How to Cook a Wolf, the trip was already off to a delicious start. Having just spent 7 nights on a Princess Cruises’ Alaska cruise three weeks prior, we were back out west again for another journey way up north. As guests of Holland America Line this time, we would be sailing a similar 7 night itinerary. Book a suite on the ship and a suite at Denali Square to enjoy luxury accommodation. All transportation by bus, rail and cruise ship, as well as flights between Fairbanks and Dawson City, Whitehorse and Vancouver are covered on Alaska Land+Sea Journeys.
Comments
Post a Comment